obscure
UK: əbˈskjʊə(r) | US: əbˈskjʊr
adj. not clearly expressed or easily understood
adj. not well-known or prominent
vt. to make something difficult to see or understand
The word "obscure" originates from Latin obscurus, combining ob- (meaning "over" or "against") and scurus (from scu-, related to "cover" or "darken"). The term originally described physical darkness or concealment, later evolving metaphorically to describe unclear ideas or hidden fame. The morpheme ob- reinforces the sense of obstruction, while scure retains its core idea of covering—logically progressing from "covered in shadow" to "hard to perceive."
The meaning of his poem remains obscure to most readers.
She prefers obscure indie bands over mainstream artists.
Fog obscured the view of the mountains.
The origins of this ancient ritual are obscure.
He deliberately used obscure language to confuse the audience.